Code of Conduct

Overview

Baloween is a place to celebrate Balboa and other swing dance styles with a bit of Phoenix love and Haloween goodies. Whether this is your first time at Baloween or you’ve been to all of our events, we ask you to join us in creating a memorable and inspiring weekend for everyone. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming event experience for all of our attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers. To ensure a positive and inclusive experience for everyone, we ask for your cooperation with the following code of conduct.

Declaration of Safer Spaces

Baloween is dedicated to providing a fun, safe, and comfortable event experience for everyone, regardless of age, disability status, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical appearance, dance ability, body size, race, or religion (or the lack thereof). To foster respect for others' comfort and boundaries, we will not tolerate harassment in any form, in person or online. Sexual language, imagery, and invitations in social situations are not appropriate within any event-managed space, including dances, workshops, competitions, and online media.

Safe and inclusive behavior extends to the dance floor. Please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers either in class or on the social dance floor. Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid collisions and injuries. It is every dancer’s responsibility to be aware of their own and their partner’s movement and position, as well as the movement and position of the dancers surrounding them, in order to avoid all forms of dangerous contact. Aerials and lifts at this event are not permitted in any capacity, though exceptions may be made for scheduled performances if communicated in advance.

Please be respectful to event staff, even if you are experiencing a personal frustration. Without the goodwill of these individuals, a smoothly functioning event is impossible.

Details and Consequences

People who pose a threat to other dancers’ safety and/or other dancers’ comfort are not welcome at Baloween.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to, language or behavior that is bullying, abusive, demeaning, discriminatory, mocking, intimidating, threatening, offensive, disruptive, or otherwise unwelcome or inappropriate.

Unsafe behavior includes, but is not limited to, dancing while intoxicated, appearing intoxicated in a manner that interferes with other attendees’ comfort or enjoyment of the event, intentionally or unintentionally dancing in a way that is harmful or uncomfortable for your partner or surrounding dancers, creating disturbances, and/or interfering with the sleep or health of other attendees.

Potential attendees who have been in violation of Baloween’s safer spaces policies in the past, or who have been in violation of similar safer spaces policies at other swing dance events or in other swing dance communities in the past, may be notified prior to the event that they are not welcome at the event at the organizers’ discretion. Attendees at the current event who violate these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund, at the discretion of the event organizers.

All Baloween attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers are expected to comply with the code of conduct and local, state, and federal laws. We reserve the right to take prompt action in response to violations, which may include warnings, notification of denial of entry to the event, expulsion from the event without a refund, and involving local law enforcement.

Attendees asked to stop any harassing or unsafe behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If you have any concerns, contact a member of the event staff immediately, and we will take appropriate action,n which may include contacting safety staff, event organizers, or local law enforcement as needed. The organizers of Baloween pledge to treat these sensitive matters with confidentiality and to prioritize the safety and comfort of attendees whenever possible.

Please address all questions or concerns to phxbaloween@gmail.com or use to a member of our staff during the event.

Last Updated 12/30/2026

Event Waier

By registering, attending and/or participating in dance classes, dance parties, or any event or program, current or future, organized by baloween and its operator Sugarfoot Rags (Primavera Dawn LLC) at any location, you hereby agree to the following:

INJURY WAIVER AND MEDIA RELEASE

I recognize that dancing requires physical exertion that may be strenuous and may cause physical injury and am fully aware of the risks and hazards involved. I have explained these risks to any minors who will accompany me.

I represent and warrant that I and any minors I sign up and/or accompany are physically fit and have no medical condition that would prevent full participation in the dance classes, dance parties, or any event or program.

In consideration of being permitted to participate in the dance classes, dance parties, or any event or program, I agree to assume full responsibility for any risks, injuries or damages, known or unknown, which I, or the minors I sign up and/or accompany, might incur as a result of attending and/or participating.

I authorize Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags to use any photo or video in which I or any minors I sign up and/or accompany, may appear, for all promotional and commercial uses and I waive any rights of compensation or ownership.

In consideration of being permitted to attend and/or participate in the dance classes, dance parties, or any event, I knowingly, voluntarily and expressly waive any claims against  Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags, its partners, staff, employees, volunteers, independent contractors, for injury or damages that I or any minors I sign up and/or accompany may sustain, or anything else, as a result of attending and/or participating.

I acknowledge that Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags, its partners, staff, employees, volunteers, independent contractors, cannot be held responsible for any loss or theft of my belongings and/or property, at all locations, and that I am solely responsible for them.

I agree to abide by the Baloween Code of Conduct or risk expulsion from the event.

COVID-19 ACCEPTANCE OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

By participating in activities and events organized by Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags, I agree to abide by the Baloween COVID-19 policies or risk expulsion from the event.

I acknowledge that there are risks associated with my participation in Baloween. This waiver, release, and other representations and covenants set forth herein are given in consideration for Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags permitting me to participate in Baloween. Therefore, without limitation, I understand that I could contract COVID-19 disease which could result in a serious medical condition requiring medical treatment in a hospital or could possibly lead to death.

On behalf of myself and my heirs, successors and assigns, I knowingly and freely, assume all such COVID-19 related risks, both known and unknown, relating to my participation in Baloween, and I hereby forever release, waive, relinquish, and discharge Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags, along with its officers, agents, employees, or other representatives, and their successors and assigns, from any and all COVID-19 related claims, demands, liabilities, rights, damages, expenses, and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, and other losses of any kind, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, (collectively, “Damages”) as a result of my participation in Baloween, including but not limited to personal injuries, death, disease or property losses, or any other loss, and including but not limited to claims based on the alleged negligence of Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags. I further promise not to sue Baloween/Sugarfoot Rags or its officers, agents, employees or other representatives, and agree to indemnify and hold them harmless from any and all Damages resulting from my contraction of COVID-19.

REFUNDS AND TRANSFERS

If you have registered for Baloween 2026 but cannot attend, you may request a refund, minus registration fees,  by October 1, 2026.

All refund requests must be made through email by emailing PHXbaloween@gmail.com.

For a Refund, please notify us no later than: 

  • July 1 for a refund, minus 5% administration fees

  • September 1 for a refund, minus 10% administration fees

  • October 1 for a refund, minus 15% administration fees

After October 1st, no refunds will be accepted.